Alix West Lefler Talks The Good Nurse, Working with Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne, and More

Alix West Lefler is one of Hollywood’s brightest young stars. The award-winning actress is quickly making a name for herself with her dynamic performances in projects including Siren, Riverdale, and The Good Doctor. This fall, she stars opposite Academy Award-winning actors Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne in The Good Nurse.

An overburdened ICU nurse leans on her selfless new colleague at work and at home — until a patient’s unexpected death casts him in a suspicious light.

PopCulturalist was lucky enough to speak with Alix about The Good Nurse, her thriving career, and more!

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts and storytelling?
Alix: I started acting when I used to do daddy/daughter shows with my dad’s live entertainment lumberjack show. It was usually my dad and me versus two lumberjacks. We would do a scripted comedy show with axe throwing, log rolling, chainsaw racing, wood chopping, and tree climbing. I would do the axe throwing and log rolling, and he would do all the other events. One of the lumberjacks was doing a play and he told me I should audition for one of the roles, so I did and got the part. I fell in love with acting while doing that play. I was around seven years old.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Alix: I would say that my mom has been the biggest influence on my career. She used to be an actor. She taught me how to break down a script, read a call sheet, helped me find my agent, and helps me prepare all my auditions. She has really just guided me and my acting style.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Alix: Thank you. The thing that stands out the most was my very first role being Hope on a TV series called Siren. I had such a warm welcoming from the entire cast, crew, producers, and my two directors on those episodes. I loved going to set every day and learning new skills, like free diving, in order to play a mermaid, and working with an incredible stunt team. The main actor, Eline Powell, who played my mom in the show, was also the kindest, most fun, wonderful, and talented person. I have been so lucky to work on every show I have been on and have had the best experiences. It is hard to say just one thing that stands out.

PC: You’re one of the stars of The Good Nurse. Tell us about the film, your character, and what attracted you to this project.
Alix: Yes, The Good Nurse is out on Netflix now! The movie is a true story about an amazing nurse named Amy Loughren, who was able to help two detectives capture a fellow nurse named Charlie Cullen, who was convicted of killing his patients. There is so much more to the story but the best part of it was getting to act with Jessica Chastain, who plays Amy Loughren, and Eddie Redmayne, who plays Charlie Cullen. I play the role of Alex Loughren who is Jessica’s daughter in the movie. I got into the part with a few things in my mind that I got from reading the script and the character description. She was a lot of fun to play and now I have also been messaging with the real Alex, and she is so incredibly nice and supportive, just like her mom, Amy.

PC: What was it like getting to collaborate with Eddie and Jessica?
Alix: I am so, so lucky to have got to work with both of them. They are two of the most talented actors I have ever seen. It is hard to describe what it was like working with them except to say how professional and prepared they were but at the same time always making sure that I was good, happy, and just as much invested in me as they were in the scenes. Between takes, you could talk and be together, but the moment it was “action”, you would look into their eyes, and they were their characters. They are also the nicest people and I love them both so much.

PC: Is there a particular scene that you’re excited for audiences to see?
Alix: I don’t think I have one scene in particular that I’m excited for everyone to see. I know the two best parts for me filming were getting to do a scene with Eddie and holding his hands and the scene where Jessica is just brushing my hair and then just holds me. Those aren’t the two most dramatic scenes of the movie, but getting to hug Jessica and Eddie was the most special to me.

PC: Besides The Good Nurse, what’s next for you?
Alix: I actually just finished filming a movie this month, but it hasn’t been announced yet, so I can’t say too much about it except we shot in this beautiful location for two months in Newfoundland, and it is going to be a great film. I’m also in a new Netflix series that is currently in post-production called My Life With the Walter Boys, and my character’s name is Parker Walter.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Alix: Stranger Things.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Alix: A good horror movie.

PC: Favorite book?
Alix: I’m reading two at the moment: one is My Life With the Walter Boys by Ali Novak and the other one is called Contest of Queens by Jordan Bartlett.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Alix: Definitely my favorite musical play is Come From Away. It is so good!

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Alix: Dolly Parton.

PC: Dream role?
Alix: A movie with Ryan Reynolds.

To keep up with Alix, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch The Good Nurse on Netflix today.

Photo Credit: Noah Asanias